Hose seam flattening device



March 24, 1964 MGANALLY HOSE SEAM FLATTENING DEVICE Filed 001;. 25, 1962 u I n u w Flee R mm A m mm 6 L R A c ATTPQNEYS United States Patent 3,126,134 HQSE SEAM FLA'I'TENING DEVICE Cari G. McAnaily, Paducah, Ky, assignor to Marvel Specialty Company, Inc., Paducah, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Filed Get. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 233,506 Claims. (Ql. 22343) This invention relates to hose seam flattening apparatus, and more specifically to an improved apparatus for flattening the toe seam of hosiery simultaneously with the inspection of the hosiery.

It is common practice to knit hosiery with an opening across the top of the toe, and to subsequently close this opening by sewing the opposite edges together, utilizing a loop stitch. This procedure results in a raised seam across the toe which must be flattened before the hosiery can be comfortably worn. Although the use of loop stitches in closing this opening makes it possible to flatten the seam by stretching the hosiery perpendicular to the seam, considerable difliculty has been encountered in flattening that part of the seam forming the dog ears at the end of the seam.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for flattening the toe seam of hosiery.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for flattening the toe seam simultaneously with the inspection of hosiery.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toe seam flattening apparatus for positively flattening the ends of the toe seam during the inspection of hosiery.

In the attainment of the foregoing and other objects, an important feature of this invention resides in the employment of a thin-walled, substantially semi-cylindrical seam flattening element disposed within a hollow, open ended tubular inspection form. The seam flattening element is movable axially of the form between a retracted position near the open end of the form and an extended position projecting outwardly from the form. The inspection form is provided with a substantially semi-cylindrical, axial extension at the open end. This axial ex tension is complementary to and cooperates with the seam flattening element, when the flattening element is in the extended position, to form an axial extension of the hollow inspection form.

Other objects and features of the apparatus will become apparent by reference to the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a hosiery seam flattening and inspecting machine constructed in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial section view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and showing the inspection form with the seam flattening element in its retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the seam flattening element in its extended position.

FIG. 4 is a partial section view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial section view taken on line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the inspection form and seam flattening element.

FIG. '7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a hosiery inspection machine having a housing 12. This inspection machine is of the general type disclosed in US. Patent 2,869,765 and has an air duct 14 connected, as at 16, to inspection form 18 having a passage 26' extending therethrough.

To induce a flow of air in either direction through 3,126,134 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 passage 20, a two-way valve 24 is connected, as by conduit 26, to a source of air pressure 28. A conduit 30 extends from one side of 32 of the air valve and has one end 34 disposed within duct 14 facing in the direction of inspection form 18 to cause air to flow through the duct toward the form. Extending from another side 36 of valve 24 is another conduit 38 having an end 40 disposed within duct 14 facing in a direction away from form 18 to cause air to flow through duct 14 in a direction away from the form. A manually operated switch, such as foot pedal 44 actuates solenoid 46 which operates valve 24 to selectively cause air to flow through duct 14 in a direction toward or away from form 18.

Movably supported near the end 56 of form 18, and projecting into opening 26, is a thin-walled toe seam flattening element 52 having the general shape of a segment or a hollow cylinder. Projecting radially outward from sides 54 of element 52 is a pair of mounting tabs 56 fixedly secured as at 58 to a pair of rod members 60. Rods 60 are slidably supported in hollow guides 62 fixedly secured to opposite sides of form 18.

Form 18 is provided with an axial extension 64 at open end 50. Extension 54 is substantially semi-cylindrical in shape, and is complementary to and cooperates with element 52 when element 52 is in its extended position to effectively form an axial extension of the hollow inspec tion form 18 as shown in FIG. 5.

Slidably mounted on form 18 adjacent coupling 16 is a collar 66 having cam surfaces 68. Rods 66 are fix edly secured, as at 70, to collar 66, and coil springs 72 surrounding rods 66 are disposed between the ends 74 of guides 62 and collar 66 to bias collar 66 towards cou pling 16. Pivotally mounted to housing 12, as at 75, is a yoke '76 having a pair of rollers '78 contacting cam sur faces 68 of collar 66. Pneumatic cylinder 86, mounted on housing 12, is connected as at 82 to yoke 76 to pivot yoke 76 about mounting 75.

A solenoid actuated two-Way valve 84 is connected to air supply 28 by conduit 86 to supply air under pressure through conduit 88 to cylinder 80. Valve 84 has an ex haust port 90 to bleed pressure from cylinder to at mosphere. Suitable electrical connections, indicated generally at 92, are provided to connect valve 84 to a manually operated switch such as foot pedal 44.

From the above it can be seen that, by properly posi tioning switch 44, air from source 28 can be directed through valve 84 to cylinder 84 to pivot yoke 76 about point 75. Pivotal movement of yoke 76, acting through rollers 78 contacting cam surfaces 68 will cause collar 66 to slide on form 18 against the force of spring 72. Movement of collar 66, acting through rod 60 will cause flattening element 52 to be projected outwardly from form 18.

To flatten the toe seam and simultaneously inspect hosiery on this apparatus, the hosiery is placed, wrong side out, on form 18 with the toe seam positioned opposite extension 64. The operator then positions switch 44 to project the seam flattening member 52 to a position substantially opposite extension 64. This axial movement of member 54 simultaneously stretches the toe of the hosiery for more efficient inspection, and rolls, or breaks, the hosiery across the leading edge 96 of flattening element 52, thereby stretching the loop stitching and flattening the toe seam. The substantially semi-cylindrical shape of element 52 results in the toe of the hosiery being stretched uniformly along the length of and perpendicular to the toe seam. Also, since the flattening element is projected to its extended position after the hosiery has been placed on the form, the flattening element must slide within the hosiery, thereby rolling or breaking the toe of the hosiery across the leading edge. This rolling, or breaking action combined with the uniform stretching of the full length of the toe seam has been found to be particularly eflective in flattening the dog ears, or ends of the seam.

After the toe seam has been flattened, the operator then positions switch 44 to bleed air from cylinder 8i), through exhaust port 99, to atmosphere thereby permitting springs 70 to return collar 64 and member 54 to their retracted position. At the same time, switch 44 energizes solenoid 46 to cause air to flow through form 18 in a direction away from end 50 to create a vacuum in form 18 which will draw the toe of the hosiery into the hollow inspection form, thereby simultaneously removing the hosiery and everting it. The hosiery is then permitted to travel through duct 14 to be deposited in a suitable receptacle as at 94.

While I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 wish it understood that I do not intend to be restricted solely thereto, but that I do intend to cover all embodiments thereof which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come with in the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A hosiery inspection and toe seam flattening device comprising;

an elongated open ended tubular inspection form supported at one end,

toe seam flattening means disposed within said form and movable axially thereof between a retracted position near the end of said form opposite said one end and an extended position projecting from said opposite end,

means defining an axial extension of a segment of said opposite end of said form,

said axial extension being substantially complementary to said seam flattening means in its advanced position,

and means moving said seam flattening means between said advanced and retracted positions to uniformly stretch and flatten the toe seam of a stocking positioned on said inspection form.

2. A hosiery inspection apparatus comprising;

a hollow tubular inspection form having an open end,

means to selectively direct a flow of air through said form in either direction, toe expanding and seam flattening means disposed within said form and movable axially thereof between a retracted position near said open end and an extended position projecting from said open end,

means defining an axial extension of a segment of said form at said open end,

said axial extension being substantially complementary to said toe expanding and seam flattening means when said toe expanding and seam flattening means is in said advanced position,

and means for moving said toe expanding and seam flattening means between said advanced and retracted positions to uniformly stretch and flatten the toe seam of a stocking positioned on said tubular inspection form.

3. A toe seam flattening and hosiery inspection apparatus comprising;

an elongated hollow tubular inspection form having an open end,

seam flattening means disposed within said form and movable between a retracted position near said open end and an extended position projecting axially from said open end,

said flattening means being thin walled and substantially serni-cylindrical in shape,

neans defining an axial extension of a segment of said form at said open end, said axial extension being substantially semi-cylindrical and complementary to said flattening means when said flattening means is in said extended position,

and means moving said flattening means between said extended and retracted position to uniformly stretch and flatten the toe seam of a stocking positioned on said tubular inspection form.

4. In a hosiery inspection machine;

an elongated hollow tubular inspection form having an open end,

means directing a flow of air through said form in either direction, toe seam flattening means comprising a thin walled substantially semi-cylindrical flattening element disposed within said form and movable between a retracted position near said open end and an extended position projecting axially from said open end,

means defining a substantially semi-cylindrical axial extension of said form at said open end,

said extension being substantially complementary to and cooperating with said flattening element when said flattening element is in said extended position to form an axial extension of said hollow tubular inspection form,

and means for moving said flattening element between said extended and retracted positions.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said means for moving said flattening element between said extended and retracted positions includes a tubular support member mounted on the outer surface of said form, an elongated support rod disposed within said tubular support, means supporting said flattening element on the end of said rod for axial movement therewith, and means moving said rod within said tubular support axially along said form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,010,172 Ammon Aug. 6, 1935 2,023,946 Ammon Dec. 10, 1935 2,869,765 Laxon Jan. 20, 1959 

2. A HOSIERY INSPECTION APPARATUS COMPRISING; A HOLLOW TUBULAR INSPECTION FORM HAVING AN OPEN END, MEANS TO SELECTIVELY DIRECT A FLOW OF AIR THROUGH SAID FORM IN EITHER DIRECTION, TOE EXPANDING AND SEAM FLATTENING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID FORM AND MOVABLE AXIALLY THEREOF BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION NEAR SAID OPEN END AND AN EXTENDED POSITION PROJECTING FROM SAID OPEN END, MEANS DEFINING AN AXIAL EXTENSION OF A SEGMENT OF SAID FORM AT SAID OPEN END, SAID AXIAL EXTENSION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID TOE EXPANDING AND SEAM FLATTENING MEANS WHEN SAID TOE EXPANDING AND SEAM FLATTENING MEANS IS IN SAID ADVANCED POSITION, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID TOE EXPANDING AND SEAM FLATTENING MEANS BETWEEN SAID ADVANCED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS TO UNIFORMLY STRETCH AND FLATTEN THE TOE SEAM OF A STOCKING POSITIONED ON SAID TUBULAR INSPECTION FORM. 